Thoughts on deconstructing, renewing and embracing the qualities (quirks, oddities, imperfections) that make us other-worldly BEAUTIFUL. Includes weekly mentions of the reigning Queen of Other, Kristen Stewart. Perhaps once we shatter the old ideas of beauty, then the need to alienate, segregate and tear down Others will disappear entirely.

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A/N: We’ll call this one a Muselet (a silly one at that), ok, Lovelies? There will be no Featured Rebel Royal in today’s essay, but I will more than make up for it next time, cross my heart. I also am pressed for time as I’m writing this just before I’m to hop a plane for a short flight down to my hometown, to attend a psychology training over the weekend, and celebrate my birthday with family and my hubs, who will fly down just to hang with me for a day or so. Of course, I also plan to squeeze in a viewing of Welcome to the Rileys’ with a couple of girls from the KSIBTU Crew. #Priorities.

Sooooo, hello, my Majestic Misfits, how have you been this week? I’ve been well, though super busy as of late, but nonetheless well. I know it’s been a rather sparse time, in the aftermath of last week’s StewiePalooza,Welcome to the Rileys Press Tour, a.k.a. Kristen. OWNING. IT. But we’ve had a few little nuggets here or there that help us coast through the week. For one, our beloved bestie Tom Sturridge and one of our lovely Featured Rebel Royals Carey Mulligan have been seen hanging together outside of hotels, at Whole Foods, whatnot. Oh, and we can’t forget that our favorite Warrior Poet Rebel Mr Rob Pattinson allegedly purchased a bicycle and has been seen riding around the lakes at the university, near Baton Rouge where he and fellow cast mates are in pre-production for the six-month shoot of Breaking Dawn.

Might be his best bet in evading the set-stalkers

With stellar (insert sarcasm) precision, someone, somewhere has happily tweeted or Facebooked, or interviewed a store owner to obtain the latest details regarding Kristen and Rob’s location, their possible living arrangements, and food consumed while in Baton Rouge…..And, well, let’s not dismiss the stories of Voodoo Weddings and elaborate Halloween bashes that Rob is supposedly throwing! No wonder the poor guy bought himself a bike!

But I digress. The newest story today purports that Rob is hosting a massive Halloween party for his fellow cast mates (which, I wouldn’t put past him, as he appears to be a very generous guy), in which he will dress up as…wait for it–A Vampire. It feels a little unusual for our notoriously shy guy and his equally shy partner Kristen to be bringing attention to themselves. But it does address the goodness that is October 31, and I’d like to take a minute to discuss this lovely day with you all.

You may recall our lovely Ms. Stewart visiting Jay Leno on The Tonight Show a couple weeks ago. In her interview, she spoke about her family’s enthusiasm for the swiftly approaching holiday known asHalloween a.k.a. The Day of Other or The Day of Embracing All Facets of Self. Maybe The Day the Invisible Becomes Visible…or…The Also Known As Day…?

Our Reigning Other Queen giggled (perhaps Stew Giggles compose the sweetest sounds ever) when she told Mr Leno that her mother, the ultra-talented Jules Mann-Stewart, is a big Halloween buff and that Halloween in the Stewart household is kinda a huge deal, like, a Bigger-Than-Christmas deal. And for several years in a row, Kristen admits to dressing up as, ironically, Dracula.

Mwahahaha! Perhaps Kristen can loan her old costumes to Rob for his party-hosting gig this year?

How bad ass is that? She wasn’t a girly vamp, Kristen cautions us. No, she wore the long cloak and rocked the widow’s peak. Man, KStew is so much better than me. #KSIBTU. Can I say that I tend to feel the same way as The Stewarts? Let’s think about it shall we? Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, is a day in which–according to English and Celtic lore–the veil between the OTHERworld and this world is thinnest. The Celts believed the souls of the dead (both benevolent and malevolent) roamed the streets and villages on this night. Family ancestors were honored and invited into the home, as rooted in the Festival of Samhain, but evil spirits were cast away when the celebrants wore masks and costumes of demons. Also? Bonfires. Lots of bonfires involved–to signify heath and home, but also as a cleansing ritual as people would throw the bones of slaughtered livestock into the flames, signifying the end of summer, and the dawn of winter. In traditional Celtic festivals, folks would hollow out and carve faces into large turnips, to place in the windows of homes in order to ward off harmful spirits. Would it look something like this?

um. errr. grrrr...? I'm sorry, I would hardly call this repulsive. Concerning, maybe, but I wouldn't run from the room screaming.

So here’s the deal. There are many perspectives on Halloween, influenced by old cultural traditions, and religious beliefs. Most countries don’t even observe it at all, not as the North Americas and some European countries do, anyway. Halloween in its incarnation today is not the same as All Souls Day (Nov 2) as traced back to the middle ages in which poor folks would go door-to-door seeking food in return for prayers for the dead–although you can see in which today’s Trick-or-Treating customs are rooted. Also, this day should not be mistaken for, though often is, The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) the holiday observed in Mexico and some South American countries in which family and friends gather for prayers and offerings in remembrance of those who have already passed on.

Here is my perspective. Halloween is the opportunity for us to present the repressed and reveal the hidden, and acknowledge the shadow, recognize the undervalued facets of yourself…One might say it’s the ultimate day to Embrace the Other? Clearly, it’s time to declare October 31 as Day of Other? Well, in my world it is a special Day of Other, because it also happens to be my birthday. *nudges you* It makes so much sense, right???

Again, this looks NOTHING like me. I certainly don't wear aprons.

So it’s true: While I already was self-conscious and awkward and hyper-aware that I looked differently, dressed differently, seemingly formulated thoughts differently than my peers and family, additionally, I endured the heckling of uncouth peers because of the day I was born. According to these geniuses, I was born on Satan’s Day and that I must be the spawn of the devil…and that I was so ugly it was no wonder I was born on Halloween, because I already came equipped with my own mask, yadda yadda. Seriously, don’t cry for me, Argentina, it’s cool. Made me stronger and more aware of the Destruction of Others at a young age.

Are we agreed? Shall we declare October 31 Day of Other? You all must see the signs now: Other-endorsing agents everywhere, opportunities to react in unexpected, unconventional, unusual, quirky, odd and rebellious ways in our every day lives. Signs encouraging you to fly your freak flag and embrace it all…right? There are the endless musicians, actors, and activists that Team Other and I try to highlight every week for you in with Musings, we also have literary heroes like LisbethSalander from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and it’s sequels, and let’s not forget the beyond brilliant TV show Glee please, all righty?

A brief reminder: while Halloween can be one official day of Embracing Otherness, I still want to encourage you to seek out the unique and extraordinary every other day as well.We’re not making Day of Other like that ridiculous poseur “holiday” Valentine’s Day, now. Nah. Other Day should really be DAILY OTHERNESS, a conscious mantra. Although, I must say I enjoy some of the holiday TV specials that arise as a result of Hallow’s Eve:

Back to Glee for a sec. Have we not talked about this show together yet? I mean, it’s a show about Otherness, outcasts, misfits and rebels set to song and dance for cryin’ out loud!! It has succeeded where poor Cop Rock could not. Just two nights ago, they did their tribute to Rocky Horror Picture Show, quickly earning itself a spot in my Top 5 episodes ever. Happy Other Day indeed! All right, we’ll talk more about Glee in future essays. But I just wanted to illustrate how prevalent and relevant Otherness is. It has permeated the collective consciousness in gloriously unusual and creative ways.

T-T-T-T-Touuuuch Meeee

REIGNING OTHER QUEEN: KRISTEN STEWART

Our Reinging Other Queen Kristen definitely recognized at an early age of her exclusion from the “Ordinary Club” and therefore her membership in the Other Category. The sweet girl was not a fairy princess or a ballerina for Halloween, (not that there is anything remotely “wrong” with either of these costumes/roles, they are examples of the more acceptable, gender-role-supportive via our society), she chose a notorious masculine, blood-sucking, erotic, influential, literary antagonist instead. When asked by friend CC of @KStewsBtrthanU: What should Kristen be for Halloween? I replied: Bettie Page.

The defiance of gender roles has nevah looked sooo good

Kristen, according to peers and filmmakers, exudes a strength and maturity far, far beyond her chronological age. Not surprisingly, Kristen was reading books such as Kerouac’s On the Road when she was a pre-teen, and at 17-years old, she was hand-picked by Greg Mottola to play the conflicted college student Em in the wonderful wonderful movie Adventureland . Most recently Jake Scott, director of Welcome to the Rileys’ reported that despite Kristen’s age (only 18 years old when she was cast as Mallory), he had complete faith that Kristen could tackle the emotional and physical obstacles to portray a broken, near-hopeless teen runaway/stripper/prostitute in his film. She is so unexpected, fresh, unique and unparalleled when comparing her to her contemporaries. Melissa Leo, Kristen’s co-star in WTTR said:

“She was 18 when we shot the movie — almost too young to know all the stuff she does, to get inside something like that. She had the willingness to literally be exposed in the way she was.”

WHEN YOU WERE OTHER

As I mentioned earlier, I had a pretty solid recognition of my Otherness when I was in grade school, and anytime I looked in the mirror (what? I’m Filipino and Puerto Rican for The Goddess’ sake, and my parents and big brother are Swiss-German, it was all kinds of obvs). But between The Great Yearbook Photo mix-up of Junior High and The High School Other Homecoming Queen nominations, I would say that I opened up to my Otherness quotient in the middle-to-late nineties.

Just this week, I was catapulted back to the Grunge Years as I found myself reading a new fan fic called The Ride by the sublime Aylah50 (whose own birthday is tomorrow Oct 29th~HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my fellow Scorpio Grunge Baby!). The story chronicles two people’s trajectory after a very romantic, sensual encounter at a concert by one of my favorite bands LIVE in 1996. Let’s just say that in my nostalgic haze, I could very remember the traces of purple Manic Panic swirling around the drain in my sink as I would dye my hair and my friends’ hair (if we weren’t using KOOLAID, remember that shit?), hear Trent Reznor’s voice sing of how he gets Closer …to God, see my Doc Martens peeking out from under my floral dresses or completely inappropriate lingerie; I can remember perving on the beautiful tattooed guy behind the counter of the coffee shop I would frequent….ahhhh. Well that 90’s Flashback and today’s playlist was brought to you courtesy of BIRTHDAY GIFTS TO ME, INC.

Just relax, yo, I was grunge. Not self-mutilating emo.

Ok. So I’m gonna leave this essay as is, right here. We talked a bit about the possible origins of Halloween, birfdays, declaring October 31 an Other Day. We of course discussed the brilliant and rebellious genius of Kristen Stewart and I promised we’d pick up next time and talk about a new Featured Royal Rebel, but we conceded that Other really is permeating our collective unconscious, right? I asked you all to remember where you were when you realized YOU. ARE. OTHER. and I moseyed down Memory Lane and found myself thinking about Nine Inch Nails, LIVE, and unrequited Coffee Shop crushes.

I’ll see you next week at some point, after Halloween, but before the LA SHIT SHOW, a.k.a. Good Times and Birfday Celebrations with The KSIBTU Crew. I’ll want to talk with you all about seeing Welcome to the Rileysas it will have had it’s wide release tomorrow. I’d like to talk about risk-taking, and bliss pursuing, and the ecstasy of love but the absolute agony of loving in the eye of the storm, Cosmology and Spirituality, Body Image and more and more… Until then, enjoy the music, go and read Aylah50’sThe Ride, and think a little about when you chose to be Dracula instead of Barbie for Halloween. Have a wonderful Day of Other/ HALLOWEEN/ SAMHAIN/WHATEVER IT IS YOU DEEM IT, but continue to seek and celebrate your Otherness beyond the 31st. I’ll see you soon so we can check in on how that’s going for ya… Take Care, xo, KJ

*Any images on this site of Kristen, Rob, the Featured Royal Rebel, and movie production are not mine. My images come from Kstewartfan.org, Google Images and Photobucket. The Indo pics and the MOOQ domain, however, are mine*

WELCOME TO THE NEW HOME OF MUSINGS ON OTHER QUEENS! Dear friends, new readers, O.G. readers, KStew and Rob supporters, Team Other mates, and pursuers of Bliss and Creativity: I am grateful that you’ve stuck with me while I’ve ventured out into this somewhat unstable territory of public rambling, and I am so pleased to share the new digs with you. Buff has been working extra hard to bring the pretty, and CC is my Archive-Transferring Goddess. She’s a Pioneer as she just brought her brilliant site KStew Is Better Than You (KSIBTU) over to this blog host a couple days ago to a vey warm reception. So change your bookmarks, kids, MusingsOnOtherQueens has it’s own domain!

I. OWN. IT.

Today’s essay will be a vintage Musings essay complete with a Featured Rebel Royal annnnnd the official commencement of the Musings On Other Soundtrack Giveway, a.k.a., KJ’s-Old-School-Love-Letter/Mixed-Tape-To-The-Extraordinary-Readers-and-Followers-of-Musings! So kick back, relax, grab a cold one (you know somewhere it’s 5 o’clock!), because I’m a wordy bitch, and today is like Opening Day, so watch out! Stick around after the essay for a few more…um..words, if you would be so kind.

The moments that seem to be great failures, followed by wreckage, were the incidents that shaped your life now~~ Joseph Campbell

A year ago, September-October-ish 2009. Where were you? In Cali, where we really don’t have seasons to note the months passing, only the fact our street lights flicker on earlier in the evening than they did previous evenings, the weather was unseasonably warm, much like it is this year. A year ago, Musings did not exist, I was in my first month of unemployment after leaving BastardNation, and I was still flitting around entertainment sites seeking snippets of news about Kristen, having not yet officially convened with the ladies I now refer to as my Sisters & Readers. Our Other Queen Kristen had finished her summer portraying another Rebel Queen in The Runaways and was in Vancouver filming Eclipse.

Our first glimpse of The Wig. The WIN in this pic? BILLY. BURKE. #TeamCharlie

Where were you when the first pics of Eclipse surfaced? Did you cringe or defend The Wig when you first laid eyes on it? Were you like me, and just so happy to see Kristen and Rob and Billy mother-freakin Burke after a torturous summer severely lacking the Stewie, that you didn’t really care about The Wig? Were you still kinda riding high, because after all the vicious rumors and stories attacking Kristen and Rob, images like this burned in your mind still?

Closer much?

A year ago, I was a somewhat lost lurker on the blogs and gossip sites, slowly making connections to fellow Kris and Rob fans simply by joining in discussions on comment boards and not willingly admitting I had a problem. A Robsten problem. By the way, only this and one other time will I refer to Rob and Kristen as one entity, because I detest the idea of labeling (see last week’s Musings) and its support of losing identity and individuality to a brand. But let me tell you why I finally admitted defeat and recognized that I was deeply fascinated by Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson. This time last year, I was in Bali, Indonesia. I was going to N’s homeland for the first time since we’d been married, a year and a half earlier. I was going to hang with the in-laws. Sample amazing food. See beauty through the lens of a culture on the other side of the planet. I had two and a half weeks in island paradise, and got to visit one of the Seventh Wonders:

Borobudur

Balinese market = Coexistence

One guess as to what I did when and if (because in 3rd-world countries, Wifi isn’t always readily accessible) I had internet connection at the hotel at night. YUP. I would google the latest news on Eclipse filming and Kristen and Rob sightings. From Bali, you guys. Though I was in a beautiful, impacting land of color, coexistence and spirituality, I still wondered when we’d see pics like THIS:

Whoops! This wouldn't come for another 6 wks, but it's so so good to see!

I snapped out of my K&R Reverie when West Sumatra, Indonesia, maybe 700 miles north of our location, experienced an Earthquake of 7.0 magnitude, sparking tsunami warnings. My poor friends and family tried frantically to contact us via any channels they could: emails, Facebook, phone (despite the 14 hour time difference and the astronomical calling rates). We were unscathed, unaware, but for several dreadful hours no one back at home in The States knew this. Nothing like a Tsunani scare to shake one out of a YouTube-induced ORD (Obsessive Robsten Disorder), hmmm? *And that was the second and last time I’ll refer to that “nickname”, but BIG W00T to The ORD Society*

What a difference a year makes! What were you all up to last year? Who were your friends?Where were you working? What level of awareness did you have regarding your own level of ORD? Kristen and Rob were ensconced firmly in Vancouver, staying in the same hotel together in adjoining rooms (we later learned this from their interview with Harpers Bazaar). They had survived a brutal summer apart on different coasts: she was in L.A. portraying the bad ass and brilliant Joan Jett to Dakota Fanning’s Neon Angel Cherie Currie; he was filming Remember Me in New York.

I was floating around homeless in every sense of the word, since I was moving back to my childhood home while I regrouped from the tragedy (read: MIRACLE BUBBLES) that was the lay-off from BastardNation, and about two months away from finding a place with Sisters & Readers in the K & R world. My time in Indonesia was meant as a cleansing experience before I returned to the reality of my fucked-up situation: I needed a job, I needed to move back to my soul’s home, I needed to break away from inethical managers, and I needed to return to living soulfully and creatively.

Dancing in the bubbles was the Best. Decision. Ever.

It was a difficult year for Kristen, navigating the pitfalls of fame, a long-distance relationship, publicly, with a partner who is equally well-known and sought after. The success of Twilight brought her opportunities to participate in movies about which she cares deeply (The Runaways, On the Road), but work and Vultures, trash-talking media hounds and spiteful bloggers constantly plagued her, still plague her. But that time, a year ago, much like my despair in the aftermath of BastardNation and The Layoff-turned-move, helped inform and shape current fortunes and successes for Kristen. She has wrapped her work in the already-legendary On the Road, and is enjoying a little break in filming with Rob before embarking on the 6-month journey of filming Breaking Dawn. And I, have launched a magical little practice and have created Musings which has brought me countless blessings in the form of close friendships and daily inspirations.

Featured Rebel Royal: James Franco

He’s been a Freak and Geek, James Dean, Spiderman’s Bestie, a loveable Stoner, a politician’s gay lover on screen and in films. And he is a recurring character on soap opera General Hospital as well, though I have no idea where he finds the time between his 12 other occupations. Additionally in 3D life, James Franco is a director, a writer, painter and grad student, poised to begin his Ph.D. in English at Yale this this semester. A California native, James dropped out of UCLA in his first semester to pursue an acting career. He moved through acting school for a year and a half onto his first known role on the cult classic Freaks and Geeks, connecting him with future collaborators and stars Seth Rogan (Knocked Up), director/writer Judd Apatow (Funny People), Martin Starr (Adventureland). Though the show only lasted one year, despite critical praise and it’s small but devoted following, James went on to land the role of James Dean in the TV biopic about the late actor.

The comparisons began immediately

His most successful films to date have been through the Spiderman movies, where James portrays Harry Osborn, Peter Parker’s best friend, and tortured son of one of Spidey’s nemeses. Just as James reported feeling a restlessness within the film world, he decided to return to school, attending UCLA ten years after he dropped out the first time. Of course, as the Universe is funny this way, the moment he wanted to withdraw from the film world, his career began to blow up. The roles for Pineapple Express and Milk arose simultaneously, and James found himself in the thick of finishing his bachelors and masters degrees in literature and creative writing while witnessing his film career flourish. His professors, classmates and girlfriend all report James’ almost ‘reckless’ energy poured into all his creative projects and he would not sleep nor eat if people did not bring his food to him, and if he didn’t take cat naps throughout the day. His work ethic is admirable and puzzling to the Hollywood folks, which is fine by James, as he doesn’t listen to criticisms or concern doled out by peers. He lives in New York where he participates in painting, directing and writing short stories when he’s not filming movies or in California for General Hospital.

Amidst speculation on his activity level (Showbiz Folk usually have multiple avenues for expression, but James Franco’s dedication to so many different facets is impressive and mystifying, reports the New York Magazine interviewer Sam Anderson); his sexuality (about which he refuses to clarify), his love life (he’s involved with an actress he met while in acting school) and his artwork (he recently showed his paintings at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles; he’s had short stories published to some acclaim), James Franco embodies the very spirit of Other Royalty. He simply cannot be categorized, and he is unapologetic about it.

OFFENSES OF OTHERNESS:

* Declines from clarifying speculation on his sexuality and love life

*Believes he can successfully finish all of his creative pursuits

*Does not crave celebrity or fame

REIGNING OTHER QUEEN: KRISTEN STEWART

Well our reigning Other Queen has been vintage NinjaStew for the past couple weeks and her presence is missed, but understood. She wrapped work on the already-highly anticipated film adaption of Kerouac’s On the Road just this past weekend, and even though there were no pictures, we suspect she’s home in Los Angeles for a brief interlude before beginning pre-prod on Breaking Dawn. Our Stewie has perfected the art of Stealth which I am very pleased about. The girl needs her privacy, and she deserves a break from the glare and judgement of the gossip mongers who seek her failure of career and heart. In her absence, tabloids and bored “entertainment journalists” like to concoct ridiculous rumors such as jealousy and fighting between herself and other actresses (this week the featured catfight is with the lovely Emma Watson of the Harry Potter films) . But I prefer to keep my eyes and ears open to the positive answers to the rumor-mongering. Last week, @pinklove24 compiled several (not all mind you, because Girlfriend has an impressive amount of Covers under her belt) of Kristen’s magazine covers into a lovely collage of ROYAL GORGEOUSNESS:

A Pretty Good Year Indeed, Ms Stewart

Also, the buzz around Kristen’s new movie Welcome to the Rileys is growing louder as the film prepares to be showcased at several film festivals in the approaching month. As more film critics view the movie, more accolades and awards-whispers trickle in for our girl. A UK entertainment journalist claims, “Not only is there life after Twilight [For Stewart]but it appears that the best is yet to come from the actress”. And Giovanni Argonaut, producer of Welcome to the Rileys says simply, “Kristen is heartbreaking in this film…worthy of awards”.

A year ago, our Other Queen covered her dyed-black shag with a Bella Swan Wig (that didn’t look as bad on film, honestly), and navigated the flood of attention, doubt and criticism because she chose to accept a role in an what became an extraordinarily popular film franchise…and she chose to keep the company of a certain London Boy. We watched her evolve from a nervous, endearingly awkward and shy girl promoting Twilight to a nervous, endearingly awkward and shy woman navigating the promotion of New Moon and Eclipse. However, she exudedassuredness and an awareness of boundaries more than she had previously. And she had several new film projects to which her name is attached. Next year at this time, when we check back, we may find she has several awards to further endorse her growing confidence and talent.

OFFENSES OF OTHERNESS:

*Does not clarify or pander to questions regarding her personal life

*Believes in pursuing many avenues of creativity: music, writing, acting

*Does not crave celebrity nor fame, though fame craves her

Because he is considered mystifying and brilliant, though sweetly eccentric and odd by his peers and journalists, James Franco is a beautiful example of a Majestic Misfit.

Because she makes great effort to withdraw from publicity, celebrity and fame, even while her star is set to explode even further than it already is now, Kristen is our long-time and probably-always-will-be Reigning Queen of Other.

KJ’s OLD-SCHOOL LOVE-LETTER-MIXED TAPE-TURNED-CD

music=Love

So here are the tracks on the Musing On Others Soundtrack aka KJ’s Old-School Love Sonnet To Otherness. The song order is not quite set in stone, but the tracks chosen, barring any complications, are accurate. I realized I play at least 3 songs every essay and I couldn’t fit all the ones I wanted here, but perhaps, if you all wish so, I’ll make a volume 2 of Love Sonnets for Others. If the track information changes, I’ll let ya know next week, most likely Tuesday, when the 5 Reader-WINNERS are announced. To enter in the giveaway, just leave a comment on this page (not on the About KJ or Twitter pages) with an email or twitter name by which I can reach you.

1. Dig–Incubus

2. Addicted to Love–Florence + The Machine

3. Hallelujah–Jeff Buckley

4. Crucify–Tori Amos

5. Soul to Squeeze–Red Hot Chili Peppers

6. The Devil’s Tears–Angus & Julia Stone

7. Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)–Pixies

8. It’s a Fire–Portishead

9. Not Afraid–Eminem

10. The Shining–Badly Drawn Boy

11. Wake Up–Arcade Fire

12. Over The Rainbow/Wonderful Word–Iz

13. Never Tear Us Apart–INXS

14. Joyful Girl–Ani DiFranco

15. Acid Tongue–Jenny Lewis

16. Trouble–Ray La Montagne

17. **6th X–RW featuring KJ

** bonus track if I can get my paws on the recording, which I believe I can

If I can put more on there, I will. I’m not quite sure how many songs CDs hold these days, I’m spoiled by the expansive space of iTunes playlists unfortunately. But if I can add up to 5 more songs as I suspect I may be able to, I’ll try to add in The Swell Season, Garbage, Paramore, B.O.B., Massive Attack, Lamb, Eastern Conference Champions among others.

Chucks and Tiaras Forever

Well, this was our first essay as an independent entity. You all deserve fist pumps and W00ts for hanging with me through this doozy of a ramble. Please take your time to explore the site and check out the links of OTHER SUPPORTERS, and BLISS-PURSUERS. There are 3 other pages aside from the Home Page displaying current Musings. ABOUT KJ, EMAIL & TWITTER, and ORIGINS OF MUSINGS. I’ve included little anecdotes and new information in all three pages. Leave comments and feedback on the essay but also on the other pages if you feel moved so. I am still in the process of transferring over old comments from previous posts, so don’t panic if you don’t see any old comments you’ve left. I also am building up a list of affiliates and sister sites to add to the link space on the side bar. Keep checking back as we continue to work on the site. As always, I love hearing from you, so please stop by and say hello.

James is Other.

Kristen is Other.

Others emerge creatively triumphant

when faced with challenges.

Embrace your Other.

QUESTION: Where were you a year ago while Kristen was embarking on filming for Eclipse? How have you resolved challenges in this year to pursue the projects you desire?

A/N: Mad props to Buff for this feast for the eyes, and for powering through and finding away for me to bring you the music . BUFF, YOU ARE AMAZING…Big squeezes and squeals for my girl CC who is my Transferring Goddess and late-night cohort. Thanks to Bouffant for providing me with the James Franco source and for feedback on the site upon first glimpse. As always, thanks to my cyber Sisters & Readers for supporting me no matter the tangent I flit…I LOVE YOU MADLY.

We went about one month without seeing hide nor hair of Kristen. While it was vexatious in moments, I was content in knowing she was completely occupied embodying her role as Marylou for the already-legendary film On the Road. The knowledge that she was invested in her work and not hiding from the Vulture-Papz eased the ache just a teensy bit. Well, then suddenly, um. BAM. I think it was even just after I had posted Musings, late last Thursday night. Near Midnight here in Cali. We got a look at Kristen in her costume for Marylou. And then, holy mother, we got pics of Rob from the same day. Outside Kristen’s trailer on the set for On the Road.

I was a bit conflicted as to whether I would post any of those pics, as I completely disagree with the invasive nature in which the Vultures typically obtain pics of Robert and Kristen (i.e. stalking, lurking, heckling, invading, ridiculing, then selling those images for an obscene amount of money to grocery store tabloids). But I figured I could post a few of the pictures…because I’m all for supporting Rob and Kristen in their quest to Communicate, Mofos! And I admittedly enjoy watching as Rob and Kristen concisely express their thoughts about papz and perhaps to some of their more extreme-clingy Not-A-Fan Stalkers, without saying a word. And we here at Team Other love Non-Verbal Communication! And besides: Rob sees you, you Stalker Lice.

You know that I can see you there, right?

And MarylouStew says:

I have cold cream, I will use it, Lurkers.

Just not in a way you hoped.

You will not enjoy it.

BeastieBoyRob Says to the Vultures:

“I can’t stand it, I know you planned it…!

This is all your…Sabotage”

So the pictures of MarylouStew in her lovely strawberry-blonde locks caused some rejoicing in the Kristen fandom. And when the pics of Rob in his classic Beastie Boy t-shirt surfaced, I’m pretty sure I heard bodies hitting the floor in a faint. Rob was there. To see his Queen, our Queen, Kristen. As soon as he wrapped up filming for his own film Water for Elephants in Los Angeles, after his obligatory work accepting surfboards at the Teen Choice Awards, the dude was on a plane to Montreal to be with his lady love. In the two or three days after those first pictures emerged into the limelight, Kristen and Rob fans began receiving the most incredible gifts of nonverbal communication that it actually overwhelmed. There were The Nuzzle pics. There were the Kristen-is-practicing-her-Lindy Hop-moves pics, and there were about two hundred fan encounters and pictures that materialized. This one was my favorite:

I cant..I just…yesss…for so many reasons..gah!

I prefer this for many reasons, one of them being that Rob and Kristen are in it…together. Also, this nice lady and her kids made this a family affairand she and her family (husband/dad snapped the picture, after asking Rob and Kristen’s permission first) interacted respectfully with the couple, thus being rewarded with the singular shot of the night with both Rob and Kristen in it, intentionally. Well then, of course, THIS happened. And it became one of my favorites evah.

quite honestly, I think this is more revealing

than all of the others.

This picture led to the pics seen ’round the world, with a confirmation that for some reason people still needed: Kristen and Robert are together…as a couple. A K-I-S-S-I-N-G couple. If you haven’t seen the grainy pictures yet a.) you’re in the minority and b.) you will need to check out the gossip sites elsewhere to see ’em. That’s the compromise I made with myself when alluding to The Kissing Pictures. Ok. So what will I post? How bout some more Communicating, my Other Rabble Rousers?!!

Nobody looks this good when walking.

Nobody but them.

Going Home

So today’s Musings is dedicated to the glorious moment of realizing we belong somewhere. That we have a place reserved only for ourselves where we can kick off our shoes, breathe deeply and share that space with what or whomever we choose.

This is something I know a whole lot about. Friends and family know me as “gypsy” or “bohemian nomad”. I have the wanderlust pretty fiercely. It’s a thirst in me that overtakes and overruns. Fortunately, I was raised by a woman who prescribed to the most incredible philosophy:

Travel is Education.

Travel is Important.

Travel is Life.

Also, with my Island Blood coursing through my veins, and my constant seeking for “belonging” as an Other..and a child of adoption, I was destined to explore and find my niche. Throw in the fact that smack dab in the middle of the years I simply refer to as: 2005 Thru 2007, I lost some major footing and was seeking grounding and direction. In the dark, dark time right after my “BreakThrough” as I lovingly refer to it (reference the Musings titled “Finding your voice…”), I needed to …go away. To heal. To remind myself what I was doing here, what my direction was. What was worth preserving. I was scattered, lacking balance, and I was RUN RUN RUN RUNNNNING from everything. And “dating” enough people for my friends and family to jokingly refer to my dates as “the UN Panel”. What? So I’m worldly. I’ve told you guys that before. Don’t judge. In this particular time, I was granted an opportunity to travel to Asia for the first time. Oh I TRAVELED. I spent time in China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and finally, my own islands: The Philippines.

Nara, Japan.

World’s Tallest Buddha.

un.be.lieve.able.

I had no choice.

It’s The Great Wall of China!

I raced to the highest peak and screamed “HELLLLLO”

What is the saying? You don’t know what you have until it’s gone…? Or…You must travel so far away to realize you were home all along…. There’s no place like Home….All of this was true for me. This could be the same for Rob and Kristen. Home. Home. Home. I discovered in my lengthy travels, even having a week on my own in The Philippines to discover my culture, that HOME is where my heart soared. Home did not have a mailbox with my name attached to it. Home was in my suitcase, with my flip flops, in my iPod. Home was where I made it. Home was shared with whatever or whomever I wanted to share it with. Home became to which I referred as my inner contentedness. A certainty that I was ok being a female, adopted and bi-racial and pierced and tattooed and voluptuous and a fan of both Rage Against the Machine AND Fergie…a confidence that wherever I was…I was OK. I didn’t need to go in search of my biological parents when I went to the Philippines…But I did go and find my culture.. I ate the cuisine, I listened to the music, I spoke with families and had meals with folks who wanted nothing more than to share their family recipe and fresh mangoes from the tree. It makes perfect sense that I managed to meet my future husband N while I was traveling all over the world and realizing that not only did I fit a standard of “beauty” in some parts of the world, but that I was just fine doing so on my own. He did not complete some unfinished project that I represented. He stands beside me. Home.

So this week, I’d say Rob went where he was content. To be with the person who seems to be ok with everything that he is. And he seems to be ok with everything that Kristen is. All in her Other Queen gloriousness. Home.

Featured Rebel Royal: Jenny Lewis

Well, kids, you know how I love me my gingers. Here’s another lovely red-headed rebel I wanted to introduce you to. Her name is Jenny, and she is a singer, songwriter and former child actor. You may recognize her from her work in one of my very favorite childhood movies: Troop Beverly Hills but, perhaps you adore her for being the near-primary front-woman for the indie-rock band Rilo Kiley.

While she made her show business debut in a JELL-O commercial, and appeared in over a dozen teen-themed TV movies and films, including The Wizard, it was in 1998 that Jenny stopped acting in favor of forming a band with friends. She is a singer/songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player for the band that has released five albums. She also has released two solo albums, appearing with The Watson Twins in her debut album Rabbit Fur Coat and then later, sans the twins in the country-tinged, indie-rock flavored Acid Tongue.

Offenses of Otherness:

*has “girlishly seductive & versatile vocals”

*formed a band for the love of music,

having no financial backing

*in-demand vocal collaborator with musicians:

Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, and

Elvis Costello

Miss Lewis has an admirer in our Reigning Other Queen Kristen! Kristen reported once having admired Jenny’s stage presence and performance abilities. When asked by MTV during the promo tour for The Runaways, Kristen reported that one of her favorite musicians was“Jenny Lewis”. Pretty fantastic endorsement coming from Rebel Royalty, and one who has famously pristine taste in music.

Reigning Other Queen: Kristen Stewart

In this epic week of Kristen sightings, MarylouStew sightings, and Kristen and Rob “home-comings”, her film On the Road is gaining much attention, not only for the incredible cast attached to it, and not just because it’s an iconic book in American literature, but because of Kristen’s participation in it. Naysayers claim that Kristen’s well-known partnership with Rob, or her involvement with Twilight is responsible for her “fame”, but Kristen’s impressive colleagues from previous movies tout and praise Kristen’s acting ferocity, disputing the naysayers. “She is utterly fierce” says Melissa Leo, Kristen’s Welcome to the Rileys co-star. Maria Bello, of The Yellow Handkerchief describes Kristen as “wonderful to work with, and a wonderful actress”. And early movie critics have hailed Kristen’s casting as Marylou as “wise”.

Offenses of Otherness:

*willingly displays her vulnerability

*seeks honest and authentic colleagues as her support network*unabashedly direct in giving her opinion

Because I ran ran ran ran far from home to realize I could never shake what was always mine, I am making the steps towards Other Queendom.

Because she picked up a guitar and sang for an unsigned, unknown musical union of friends, having walked away from a potentially successful acting career, Jenny is a fierce Rebel Queen.

Because Kristen has made her opinion on parasitic creatures preying on her personal life–including her relationship with Rob–abundantly clear, without having to say a word, Kristen is Reigning Other Queen.

Jenny is Other.

Kristen is Other.

Others recognize Home not as a location,

but a state of being.

Embrace your Other.

Question: Who, what, where is Home for You?

A/N: Thank you to Bouffant, as always for pre-reading and perusing the Thesaurus with me–it’s like fucking Christmas when I’m using a thesaurus, and B played. Thank you to @Buff82 for making this whole thing pretty. I still tear up when I pull up the page and see her art. As always, thank you to CC, as her joy in writing KSIBTU inspires me daily. To Iris @Just2CUSmile, who holds my hands while I cry through the night..while reading stories. Thank you to my beloved Sisters &Readers including Sail, Julie, Lowkey, Brothaa (Missy) and as always, the Clog Wielding Queen. I want to thank two writers who have broken my heart and surpassed all that is beautiful this week with words they’ve written: H32M who writes Disappear Here and Danieller123, author of the staggering Under the Apple Tree. You teach me more. You teach me about Exquisite Poetry. I bow down to you. Thank you to Kathryn, my Welsh Muse, Manager and friend. And to her outrageously gifted husband, my friend Keiron. You INSPIRE. See you all next Thursday.